1951 Frazer Manhattan Convertible Sedan

[jake]

 

[Fid]

It's nice.  I have to admit that I wonder how a car can be a convertible and a sedan.

[JFerriss]

yes it is an ironic term. I think that the pre-WWII GM 4 door convertibles were called convertible sedans. Similar to the Frazer but had removable center posts between the front and rear doors.

I read the description of this auction ad and it is interesting how the writer picked up on the 1951 Frazer advertising theme of "Hand Crafted," then equating it with "American and European" coach builders.

I have to say though, that term never bothered me as my 1951 Frazer Manhattan 4 door hardtop was well made and a very quiet comfortable car to drive. I put a lot of miles on it when I owned it.

[boatingbill]

Back in the early 70's I found a '51 Frazer hardtop in a barn in northern Minnesota. We towed
the car a mile or less and it started up! I drove the car home, but when I lifted up the carpet
there was a lot of rust ( dirt floors are bad for storage due to moisture) so I sold it. The car
ran well and was complete and I have always regretted doing that. The design has with stood
the test of time and looks good even today. John Haller had a pale yellow one and every time
he drove it to the gas station I worked at in the early 60's it would draw a crowd. I think KF
could have sold a lot of the '51 model if they wanted to produce more bodies after they used
the early shells up. John would show up on Friday night with his Frazer or Darrin and it caused
quite a stir. He lived in south Minneapolis and was a big KF fan.

[Fid]

I remember just after we moved to the Twin Cities John Haller drove his Darrin to our house. Every kid on the block stopped and stared at it.  He used to drive the '51 Convertible quite a bit too. That one is now owned by Lowell Johnson of Sheboygan, WI.  Lowell redid the car and returned it to its original color - blue (forget the exact name of the blue).  I remember when John had it, it had a pristine steering wheel which John had found at an old dealership back in the day.  I liked the yellow better than the blue but I'm glad it's still on the road. Lowell Johnson had it at the national in Sweet Water, TN in 2012

and

[Roadmaster49]

Oh those early day stories.  Wish I was young again (I'm 52).  Back then most KF's were used cars and for those who liked them you could spot them and know that a 51 hardtop was quite rare and interesting. or a convertible or Darrin Dragon etc.

It is GREAT to see that Haller car go to another KF collector that showed it and enjoys it.

I am looking at a 51 Lincoln Cosmopolitan convertible project and saw it's #1 value in the $40,000 range.  Though rarer, I am not sure these Frazer convertibles will ever see $60,000 plus unless the seller wants to market heavily and put them in front of some January Scottsdale "stupid" money. 

[Gordie]

John's yellow convertible still lives on in the form of his 1/43 die cast model from back in the day.  I bought most of John's K-F collection many years ago and it now  sits proudly on my toy and model shelves.  John's membership number was 127.  If you want to see how inexpensive Kaiser Darrin's and convertibles were just look through the early editions of the Quarterlies before the Newsletter was being used.  You could have had a garage full of each for under $1,000 but in those days you could buy a '54 Corvette for the same money.

[Gordie]

It's nice.  I have to admit that I wonder how a car can be a convertible and a sedan.

The Fords between 1935 and 1939 were called convertible sedans if they had roll up windows and phaetons if they had snap in windows. Ford in 1936 offered six different open cars.

[Fid]

Thanks for the explanation Gordie!  Seems a person can learn a lot on these forums.

[Bob L.]

Gordie had it right...at least for Fords.

I owned a 38 Ford Convertible Sedan a few years back (result of failed attempt to buy a Stanley Steamer at auction, had money left...another story).  Made 2406 of them.  FDR had one at Warm Springs (still there) fitted with hand controls, so he could drive it.  4 door.  The center posts, B pillars, were a loose piece that fitted in before top went up.   All the windows were roll-up. 

Bob L.